Overview
- More than 970 newly appointed BLOs and AEROs began divisional training in Kolkata and surrounding districts to prepare for next year’s Assembly polls.
- The Election Commission raised minimum annual remuneration for BLOs to Rs 12,000 and supervisors to Rs 18,000, plus a Rs 2,000 incentive for special drives.
- CEO Manoj Agarwal described the programme as routine preparation following a ban on contract poll workers and the induction of fresh electoral staff.
- ECI officials emphasised that a state-wide Special Intensive Revision can only proceed after the judiciary delivers its judgment on the pending case.
- Trinamool Congress leaders decry any SIR as politically motivated, while BJP-aligned figures insist it is needed to remove alleged illegal voters.